GNG2 inhibits brain metastases from colorectal cancer via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

Abstract G-protein gamma subunit 2 (GNG2) plays a vital role in various cellular processes, yet its specific function in colorectal cancer (CRC), particularly in highly invasive cases and brain metastasis, remains unclear. This study identifies GNG2 as a key regulator in metastatic colorectal cancer...

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Main Authors: Chenhua Luo, ZhiMing Xiao, WenLong Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85592-0
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author Chenhua Luo
ZhiMing Xiao
WenLong Yang
author_facet Chenhua Luo
ZhiMing Xiao
WenLong Yang
author_sort Chenhua Luo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract G-protein gamma subunit 2 (GNG2) plays a vital role in various cellular processes, yet its specific function in colorectal cancer (CRC), particularly in highly invasive cases and brain metastasis, remains unclear. This study identifies GNG2 as a key regulator in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) through bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation. Functional enrichment analyses reveal that GNG2 is related to the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and cell cycle regulation. These findings were further confirmed by in vitro and in vivo experiments. The overexpression of GNG2 significantly induced G0/G1 arrest and further inhibited the PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis in CRC cell lines, including suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion and metastasis ability. In vivo studies using an orthotopic xenograft model demonstrated that GNG2 overexpression reduced brain metastasis and extended overall survival in mice. Immunohistochemistry and multiplex immunofluorescence confirmed the association between GNG2 overexpression, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, and G0/G1 arrest. Our study suggests that GNG2 contributes to tumor suppression in CRC, particularly in preventing brain metastasis, and could serve as a promising biomarker and treatment target for mCRC, offering fresh insights into the molecular processes driving cancer progression and metastasis.
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spelling doaj-art-cb3d112aab144eacb68d6c3a76549a622025-01-19T12:17:55ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-85592-0GNG2 inhibits brain metastases from colorectal cancer via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathwayChenhua Luo0ZhiMing Xiao1WenLong Yang2Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityAbstract G-protein gamma subunit 2 (GNG2) plays a vital role in various cellular processes, yet its specific function in colorectal cancer (CRC), particularly in highly invasive cases and brain metastasis, remains unclear. This study identifies GNG2 as a key regulator in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) through bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation. Functional enrichment analyses reveal that GNG2 is related to the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and cell cycle regulation. These findings were further confirmed by in vitro and in vivo experiments. The overexpression of GNG2 significantly induced G0/G1 arrest and further inhibited the PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis in CRC cell lines, including suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion and metastasis ability. In vivo studies using an orthotopic xenograft model demonstrated that GNG2 overexpression reduced brain metastasis and extended overall survival in mice. Immunohistochemistry and multiplex immunofluorescence confirmed the association between GNG2 overexpression, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, and G0/G1 arrest. Our study suggests that GNG2 contributes to tumor suppression in CRC, particularly in preventing brain metastasis, and could serve as a promising biomarker and treatment target for mCRC, offering fresh insights into the molecular processes driving cancer progression and metastasis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85592-0GNG2Brain metastases from colorectal cancerG0/G1 arrestPI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway
spellingShingle Chenhua Luo
ZhiMing Xiao
WenLong Yang
GNG2 inhibits brain metastases from colorectal cancer via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway
Scientific Reports
GNG2
Brain metastases from colorectal cancer
G0/G1 arrest
PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway
title GNG2 inhibits brain metastases from colorectal cancer via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway
title_full GNG2 inhibits brain metastases from colorectal cancer via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway
title_fullStr GNG2 inhibits brain metastases from colorectal cancer via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway
title_full_unstemmed GNG2 inhibits brain metastases from colorectal cancer via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway
title_short GNG2 inhibits brain metastases from colorectal cancer via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway
title_sort gng2 inhibits brain metastases from colorectal cancer via pi3k akt mtor signaling pathway
topic GNG2
Brain metastases from colorectal cancer
G0/G1 arrest
PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85592-0
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AT zhimingxiao gng2inhibitsbrainmetastasesfromcolorectalcancerviapi3kaktmtorsignalingpathway
AT wenlongyang gng2inhibitsbrainmetastasesfromcolorectalcancerviapi3kaktmtorsignalingpathway